Japan Asahi Korea-Japan summit, Korea owes... Kishida shuts his mouth, 尹 keeps talking

President Yun Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida greet each other prior to a brief summit between South Korea and Japan at a conference building in New York, USA on the 21st (local time). [사진=연합뉴스]

Japan’s Asahi Shimbun evaluated that the meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was met with the active push of the South Korean side, and there was no significant result.

Asahi explained in detail the background of the Korea-Japan summit held in New York on the 21st (local time) through a report on the 23rd.

According to those around Prime Minister Kishida, the meeting was held after several requests from the South Korean government to “want to meet”.

At that time, the Japanese side said, “It is only this time and place. If you still come…”, the newspaper reported, “President Yoon has moved to the date and place designated by Japan.”

Asahi said that since the 15th, there has been a conflict between Korea and Japan over this meeting.

When the South Korean presidential office announced that the meeting had been agreed on that day, the Japanese side strongly objected, saying it was a one-sided announcement.

The newspaper reported that Prime Minister Kishida was angry with the South Korean announcement and expressed his displeasure with those around him, saying, “Don’t say anything that hasn’t been decided. We won’t meet in reverse.”

A close associate of Prime Minister Kishida recalled, “The prime minister was furious. He said, ‘I’m not really going to meet you.'”

Nevertheless, the talks were successful, and according to the attendees, President Yun continued his speech eagerly in front of Prime Minister Kishida, who shut his mouth with a grim expression.

Asahi said, “There has been no progress on the issue of forced labor, the biggest issue between Korea and Japan.

After the meeting with President Yun, Prime Minister Kishida said to those around him, “They are showing their will as well. From now on (how to solve the situation), you just have to look at your skills.”

The newspaper said that it is impossible to foresee any improvement in relations, and if it is known that South Korea conducted a maritime survey around Dokdo immediately after the launch of the Yun regime and the conservatives of the ruling LDP objected, and that the Kishida cabinet compromised with the South Korean side due to a drop in approval ratings, the conservatives would lose support. Concerns were cited as variables.

The reason why the talks took place beyond this background was analyzed that “the Japanese government has evaluated to a certain extent the attitude of the Korean side to improve relations”.

One of the participants from the Japanese side who attended the meeting said, “You said you wanted to meet without any results, so we did not have to meet, but we met. Korea owes Japan a debt. Of course, next time we will come with results or progress.”